Window construction



Sept 10, 1929 G. w. LANCASTER. A 1,727,470

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WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. l1 1928 5 Sheets--Sheet 2 fltkez we qSept. 10, 1929. G, W LANCASTER 1,727,470

WINDOW CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. ll, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @la z/ a Geary@/Lafzeasa W MM am 61mm,

Sept. 10, 1929. G. w. LANCASTER WINDOW CONSTRUCTION 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet4 Filed Jan. ll

"Hlm 6606137@ WLa/zcasr Sept. l0, 1929. G. w. LANCASTER WNDOWCONSTRCTION Filed Jan. ll, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 alu Patented Sept. 10,1929.

UNITED gsTATizis PATENT ,oi-Fica GEORGE W. LNGASTR, OF `RICHMOND,VIRGINIA.

wiNDoW CONSTRUCTION.

Application led January 11, 1928.y Serial` No. 245,957.

This invention relates to window construccause these Windows are usuallyneither` coiinterl alaiiced, nor yprovided fwith any means to facilitatethe raising and lowering thereof. The failure to counterbalance theseWindows heretofore was dueto the very restricted space in which theseWindows had to Work, to the ditliculty of assembling thecounterbalancing parts in the built-up fraine-4 work of the vehicle, andto the diiiculty of gaining access to ther various parts of the windowstructure Whenever yitbecame necessary to repair or replace such parts.l

The main object of m y invention is therefore, to provide a Wint oWconstruction of the class described in which all the objectionable anddangerous features have been eliminated; and to this end I have provideda structure in which the sash, and screen connected thereto7 can beraised or lowered by mere linger pressure, and Will remain in anyposition to which it may be adjusted without the use of locking devicesof any kind Whatsoever. p l y L A further object of the invention, yinthe construction particularly adapted foruse in railroad Pullman cars,is to provide the sash With an overhanging sill lip, at the junction ofthe sash and screen, toserve as a rain shield when the sash is raisedpart-Way for ventilation. y

Another object of the invention, and of great utility in `Windowconstructions generally, is to provide the several movablecounterbalancing parts with adjustable means to prevent rattle thereof.n i

Still another object of the invention is to provide windowyconstructions ofthe stieet car type with shock absorbing mechanism toretard the abrupt descent of their and avoidinjury to the fingers ofanyone` lowering the Windows.

`on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1;

.party shown in sashes i Other objects will appear as the detaileddescription appears.

In the drawings, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of vthe preferred foi-in of windowconstruction, with parts of the Window' enclosing structure 55 omittedto disclose details of construction which are normally concealed;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section Figure 3 is a top plan View ofthe window 60 construction shown in Figure l;

, Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4of Figure 1;

Figure 5"s` a vertical transverse section` on' the 'line 5-5 of Figure3; 65

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the preferred form ofi'vindowconstruction;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail of an anti? rattle adjusting device,shown moreclearlyy in Figure 6 to adiust certain elements of the 70invention and prevent rattle; n

Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the adjusting mechanism shownin Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation of the sillparts of the Window construction showing the Window in closed position;f i i Figure 10 is an elevation to an enlarged scale of the sash andscreen shown in Figure 1; f f i Figure 11 is a vertical transversesection of the kline ll-llof Figure 10; s

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a spring plate used to maintain tautthe Wire screeningof the slidahle screen;

Figure 13 isa fragmentary elevation'with section of a modification of a.Window construction adapted for use on street cars, busses, boats'izetc.Figure 14 is a verticaltransverse section 90 on the lines 14-14 ofFigure 13;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section lto an enlargedscaleof a shock absorbing mechanism for the window sashes used in aconstruction yshown in Figures 13 and f Figure 16'is a view similar tothat shown in yFigure 15, but with the parts thereof shown in differentpositions;

Figure 17 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 17-17 of Figure13; and,

Figure 18 is a fragmentary perspective view of the Stiles of the windowconstruction shown in Figures 13 and 14.

The window construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is the preferredform adapted' for use for Pullman railroad cars. As is wellknown in thisart, the raising and llowering of the sashesv of Pullman windowsrequires the exercise of a great deal of brute strength, with theconstant liability of the windows falling from raised positipn andinjuring passengers, and of breaking the glass. To obviate thisobjection, I have provided a construction in which the sash and allother sliding elements connected thereto are `counterbalanced so as toavoid the necessity for using various kinds of spring catches which moreoften jamior fail to catch than `perform the function for which they areintended to be K used.

My construction comprises a glass sash 1, slidably mounted on oppositesides in weatherstrips 2 mounted in a 'circular recess 3 formed in themetallic jambs 4. The recess 3 is substantially circular and theweatherstrip 2 isyformed of light springy metal kshaped somewhatdiierent from the recess 3 so that parts 5 thereof contact with a curvedpart 6 of the recess 3 to cause the curved end 7 ofthe weatherstrip 2 tobind yieldingly against the sides of slide strips 8 which are suitablysecured to, or formed integral (as shown-in this case) with theVchanneled members 9 in which the glass 10 is secured in anysuitablermanner.

The sash 1 lhas an eyelet 11 secured to the center of the toprail.thereof and a chain 12 extends from this eyelet over a pulley 13 deypending froma cross-member 14 (see Figure6) to be secured at its otherend to a counterbalance weight l which is slidably mounted on rods 16rand 17.

The rods 16 and 17 are secured at their bottom ends to the soliit 18 ofthe window opening 19, and have their top ends suitably secured to theends of rods 20, which are pivotally supported at one of their ends on astrap 21'eXtending betweenthe stiles 22r and 23 ofthe windowframe. Inorder to adjust the rods 16and 17, to prevent rat` tle of the weight 15,I have provided plates 24 and 25 secured to the top 'of posts 26 and,

27, respectively, by a slot and screw connection, whereby the plates24and 25 may be adjusted to cause their lips 28 and 29 (see F igures7 and8), to engage the rods 2O and move them in either direction toward orfromthe window jambs to move the rods 16 and 17 into such position aswill prevent the rattling of the weights 15. Y

The weights 15 may be supplemented in their counterbalancingelectby'weights 30 which has its and 31 (see Figures 3, 4, and 5, andparticularly Figure 5), slidably mounted on rods 32 and 33 respectivelyin pockets 34 and 35 formed between the' window jambs and the supportingweatherstrip recess 3 is provided with a slot 36 throughout part of itslength to accommodate an eyelet v37 (see Figure 5) which has oneend of achain 38 secured thereto. The chain 38 extends around a pulley 39rotatably mounted on an angle bracket 40 secured to the posts 26 or 27,as the case maybe, and has its other end secured to an eyelet 41 screwedinto the upper end of the weight 30. The rods 32 on which the weight 30slides are secured at their lower ends to crossplates 42 suitablysecured in the pockets 34 and 35.

To the llower rail, and on the inside of the sash 1, there is suitablysecured a spacer member 43, through which screws 44 pass to secure ascreen 45 and a Weather-lip 46 to the bottom rail of the sash 1. Thescreen 45 is slidably mounted by its opposite Stiles in recesses 46formed*A in the window jambs and moves up and down in these recessesalong with the sash 1 and has its upper rail provided with a sash lip 47to etfectthis up and down movement.

The screen is of special construction and is shown in greater detail inFigures 10 and 11. vThe wire' screening is provided around its edgeswith a bead 48 (see Figure 11) and the framework in which this screeningis secured is formed of channeled rails 49, each of which has aninturned iange 50 adapted to receive onel edge of a spring blade 51other; edge provided with a flange 52 adapted to seat against the bead48 and press the screening outwardly toward the several rails 49. Thespring blades 51 are normally straight but, when seated in the rail 49as shown in Figure 11, become bowed in a yielding action on thescreening 53 to keep it taut in all directions.` The upper rail of thescreen 45 has the spring seated therein in several ysections in order toprovide forthe passage of the screws 44 therethrough which secure thetop rail of the screen to the lower rail and spacer 43 of the sash 1. v

It will be understood, of course, that the yseveral rails of the screen45 may be detachably secured to each other in any suitable mannerk toprovide for their assembling or disassembling when it becomes necessaryto repair or replace thescreen therein.

The sash 1 has its lower rail 55 formed with a'weatlier-l-ip 56 adaptedto fit against a corresponding recess 57 in the window sill 58. Thelower rail is deeplyfchanneled to receive a block of rubber or `othersuitable material 59, adapted to form a seat for the -glass`60 andthrough which the screws 61 may Vpass to secure the spacer strip 43 tothe posts 26 and 27. The

lower rail 55. The upper rail 62 of the sash mayl be made in two partsadapted to be screwed together and one of which is detachable from theother to provide for the removal of and insertion of theglassff) in thesash. Any suitable putty or similar filler may be used to secure theglass properly in its `sash 1.

A shade 63 of the usual spring roller type is mounted on the springroller 64 (see Figure 2) which is rotatably mounted in angle brackets 65secured to the removable plates 66 which forms a cover for the windowoperating mechanism of this structure. The shade 63 has a lowerstiiiening rod 67, provided at its opposite ends with detachableinturned slide members 68 adapted to slide in recesses 69 formed in thewindow jamb; each member 68 has one end thereof screwed to thestiifening rodl 67 and has its other end 70 inturned to ride in abeadlike depression 71 formed in the recess 69. By this construetion,the rod 67 is prevented from being' pulled away from the window jambs,and the members 68 can be readily unscrewed from the stiffening rods 67whenever it becomes necessary to remove the shade from the window.

ln order to provide for the ready assembling and disassembling of thewindow construction it is necessary to form the whole frame structure intwo longitudinal vertical sections, which can be readily secured to eachother. This arrangement is shown in Figure 18 in which the window Jamb1s shown as comprising two parts 72 and 73, the part 72 being providedwith a lip 74 and a part 7 3 being provided with a lip 7 5. adapted tooverlap the lip 74 and to be secured thereto by bolts or screws 74countersunk into the lip 75 so as to present a iiush surface for theseveral sliding members of the window construction. The lips 74 and 75are so arranged that when they are secured together the outer surface ofthe lip 75 will lie flush with the other parts of the window j amb.

lit will be understood, of course, that the various horizontal membersof the window construction will be welded or otherwise suitably securedto these detachably connected stiles so that the parts of the windowframe will be integrally connected and may be assembled by merelybringing the separate vertical parts together on opposite sides Otsupporting posts 26 and 27 and screwing up their securing elements 7 4.When the parts are thus assembled on the posts 26 and 27 the outerfinishing plates 66, 76, 77 and 78 may be secured to the supportingposts 26 and 27 to cover all the rough construction work underneath.

Particular attention is directed to the weather-lip member 46 shown inFigures 2 and 9. It will be noted that this is a rather wide metallicplate shaped to conform to the shape of the baseplate or sill 79. lVhenin raised position, as shown in Figure 2, the weatherplate 46 forms arain guard to prevent the ingress of rain through the screen 45 whenthewindow is raised sufficiently to provide for slight ventilation of theinterior of the car.

It will be apparent Jfrom the description so far, that I have provided awindowconstruction admirably adapted for use in Pullman cars, wherebythe window and shade and screen may be very readily assembled anddisassembled and may be adjusted into any desired position by merefinger pressure on the sash lip 47, and that when the sash is slightlyraised, as is customary in the sleeping compartments of Pullman cars,the weatherplate 46 forms a very effective shield de vice for preventingrain or snow from being blown into the compartment 'through the screen.

The modification vshown in Figures 13 to 17 inclusive, is designedparticularly for use in street cars, busses, boats, etc., where thewindows are adapted to be lowered rather than raised, and where thespace for screens above the window opening is too limited to permit theuse of a sliding screen.

In Figures 13 and 14, the sash 80 is slidably arranged in weathstrips 81mounted in the channel member 82 similar to the construction shown inFigures 1, 3, and 4, and the screen 85 has the bot-tom thereof securedto the top of sash with a spacing strip 84 arranged between a stiiieningplate of the screen and the top rail of the sash 80. A weatherplate 86is secured to the plate 85 to form a lip adapted to seat over acorresponding recess 87 in the sill 88 of the window construction. Thescreen 83 is mounted on the spring roller 89, which in turn is rotatablymountedl in angle brackets 90 suitably seeured to the window framework91. The stiffening plate 85 is mounted to slide in the recesses 92formed in the window jambs.

The shade 93 is also mounted on a spring roller 94 having its endspivoted in brackets 95 suitably secured to the wall plate 91 of thestructural framework. The bottom of the shade has a stiilening rodsimilar in every respect to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the partsthereof are designated by similar reference characters in Figure 17.

The window sash 80 and the screen 83 are counterbalanced to a greatextent by the springs of the roller 89, and this spring coupled Awiththe frictional resistance of the weatherstrip is suiiicient to retainthe window and screen in any position to which they may be adjusted. Inorder to prevent injury to the hand of an operator in lowering the sashof this construction, l have rovided a spring shock absorber 96 below te window sill 88. This shock absorber comprises a rod 9T mounted at itsopposite ends in brackets 98 and 99 secured to theinside of the channelmember 82. A coil spring 100 surrounds the lower part of the rod 97 andhas one end- Vcontact face of a spring 102 secured in the channel 90 insuch position as to hold the 'window 80 yieldingly in its lowermostposition and against the compression of the spring 100. The sash isshown in raised position in Figure 15 and in lowered position 1n Figure16 with the spring 102 engaging the sleeve 101 to hold the sash lowered.

The objectof the last named construction is to prevent injury to thehand of the operator by sudden lowering of the sash as it will beapparent that the spring contacting with the sleeve 101 will prevent anyviolent contact between the. hands of the operator and the sill 8S ofthe window opening.

What l claim is:

1. A Window frame comprising a slotted head, a slotted sill, a pair ofstiles, the slots of said head and said sill being offset laterally fromeach other, a sash slidable through the slot of said head, a second sashslidable through the slot of said sill, the top rail of the second sashbeing xed to the bottom rail of the first sash, and means connected tothe top rail of the first sash to counterbalance both sashes.

2. A window frame comprising a pair of 'Stiles provided with parallelpairs of grooves, a head having a slot alined with one of said pairs ofgrooves, a sill having a slot alined with another pair of said grooves,a pair of sashes each of a size adapted to close the opening in saidframe and having the bottom rail of one fixed to the top rail of theother, and means for Guiding the upper sash in-one of said pair ofgrooves andthrou h the slot in said head, means for guiding t ie `othersash in the other pair of grooves and through the slot in said sill, andmeans connected to the to sash for counterbalancing both of said sasies.

3. A window frame having the slotl through the head thereof, and acasing above saidhead, a sash slidable in said frame and through saidslot intosaid casinga rodsupported in said casing, a couterbalanceweight slidably mounted on saidirod and means connecting said wei ht tosaid sash.

4. A wlndow rame having a slot through the .head thereof, and a casingabove said head, a sash slidable in said frame through said slot intoand out of said casing, a rod in said casing fixed at one end to thehead of said frame and Pivoted at the other end to said casing, acounterbalance weight slidably mounted on said rod, means for connectingsaid weight to said sash, and means for moving the pivoted end of saidrod to prevent rattle of the weight thereon.

5. A window frame having a slot through the head thereof and a casingabove said head, a sash slidable in said frame and through said slotinto and out of said casing, a pair of rods fixed at one end to the headof said frame and pivotally connected at their other ends to saidcasing, a weight slidable on said pair of rods and having a recess atthe center thereof between said rods, a pulley fixed to the head of saidcasing, a cable passing over said pulley and having one end thereoflconnected to the top of said sash and its other end connected to saidweight at the center of its recess, and means for adjustlng the tops ofsaid rods to prevent rattle of the weight thereon.

6. A window frame having a slot through the head thereof and a casingabove said head, a sash slidable in said frame and through said slotinto and out of said casing, a pair of rods fixed at one of their endsto the head of said frame and vertically arranged in said casing, aweight slidable on said pair of rods, a pulley fixed to head of saidcasing, a cable passing over said pulley and having one end thereofconnected to top of said sash and its other end connected with saidweight, said weight being provided with a recess to receive said pulleyat the upper position of the Weight on said rod.

7. A Window frame having a slot through the head thereof and a casingabove said head, a. sash slidable in said frame through said slot intoand out of said casing, a pair of rods fixed to head of said frame andar ranged vertically in said casing, a counterbalance weight slidablymounted on said rods, means connecting said Weight to the top of saidsash, a pair of weights slidably mounted in said casing on oppositesides of the path of movement of said sash, and means connecting saidpair of weights to the Sides of said sash near the top thereof, all ofsaid weights co-acting to counterbalance said sash.

8. A window frame having a slot throughthe top ends of said rods toprevent rattle oi2 said weights on said rods. a pair of weights slidahlymounted in said casing on opposite sides el? said sash, and meansconnecting said pair of weights to the sides of said sash near the topthereof, all of said weights co-acting to counterbalance said sash.

9. A window frame having a sash slidably mounted therein, a weather-lipprojeeting laterally from the bottom rail of said sash and having adown-turned flange on its outer edge to lap over the outer edge of thesill of said frame.

v10. A window frame having a slotted head,

a slotted sill and a pair of stiles connected to said head and sill, acasing above said head, a sash slidahly mounted in said frame to slidethroughthe slot into said easing, a spring controlled shade mounted insaid casing and having a stil-lening rod at the free end thereof, andmeans connecting the opposite ends of said rod to the stiles of saidframe to prevent removal of said rod from said frame.

11. A window frame having a slotted head, and having grooves in thestiles thereof alined with the slot in said head, a casing on top ofsaid head, a window shade mounted in said casing above said head andhaving the free end thereof provided with a stiltening rod, angle platesdetachably secured to the opposite ends of said rod the upturned ends ofsaid plates engaging recesses formed in a side of each of said groovesto hold the ends of said rod in slidable engagement with said groove.

12. A window frame having a slotted head and a slotted sill, a easingabove the slotted head, a casing below the slotted sill, a glazed sashslidable through the slot of said sill and a spring controlled rollerscreen mounted in the irst named easing and connected to the top of saidsash to counterbalance the sash in said frame.

13. A window frame having a slotted head and a slotted sill, a easingabove a slotted head, a casing below the slotted sill, a sash slidablethrough the slot of said sill, a spring controlled roller spring mountedin the first named casing and connected to the top of said sash toeounterbalanee the sash in said frame` a spring in the lower casingarranged in the path of movement of said sash, and means in the lowercasing adapted t o engage said sash and hold it yieldingly positioned insaid easing against the pressure of said spring.

14. A Window frame having a slotted head and a slotted sill, a sashslidable through the slot of said sill, a spring controlled rollerscreen mounted in the first named casing and connected to the top ofsaid sash to eounterbalance the sash in said frame, a coil spring in thelower casing mounted in the path of movement of said sash, a rod aroundwhich said spring is wound, a sleeve connected to said sash and slidablealong said rod, and a spring cam plate adapted to engage said sleevewhen the sash is forced into the lower casing' against the compressionof said coil spring and to hold the sash yieldingly positioned in saidlower casing against the compression of said coil spring.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

GEORGE WV. LANCASTER.

